Excellency Mr. Đỗ Hùng Việt , Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; 

Excellencies, Ambassadors;

Colleagues from ministries, national partners and non-governmental organizations, and the UN;

Distinguished guests;

On behalf of the United Nations in Viet Nam, I am very pleased to join the Vice Minister in welcoming you to this consultation workshop. 

The workshop today seeks to gather input from diverse stakeholders to help strengthen the draft of Viet Nam’s National Report for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It builds on our collaborative workshop held in April, which considered good practices in reporting under the 4th cycle UPR.

A broad consultation process at the national level with all relevant stakeholders on the National Report is a key element of the UPR process, aimed at ensuring a realistic and comprehensive portrayal of the country’s human rights situation. This criterion is emphasized in the Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1, which calls for meaningful stakeholder participation in the process from the outset. Therefore, I thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP for their dedicated efforts to make this consultation workshop happen and extend my thanks to the Embassy of Norway for their generous support. 

UNDP will present the UN’s general suggestions on how to further strengthen the draft National Report. However, I take this opportunity to stress three key messages on behalf of the UN in Viet Nam. 

First, embrace the UPR mechanism as a way to reflect on and improve human rights progress in the country. In the 3rd Cycle of the UPR, Viet Nam fully supported 220 out of 291 recommendations it received, an increase of 13% from the 2nd Cycle. This positive trend is encouraging and we hope it will continue in the 4th Cycle. 

Second, approach the national report not as an end in itself, but as part of a broader process to help advance the progressive realization of rights. Similarly, the UPR process is not a one-time review event; it calls for our commitments to go beyond mere reporting and actively engage in implementing the UPR recommendations. This commitment also includes fulfilling all international human rights obligations such as Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures and those embedded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this regard, I want to acknowledge the successful visit by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development earlier this month. The visit shows an important effort towards this commitment, and I hope we may see further visits in coming years.

While the UPR review itself, the actual interactive dialogue between Member States in Geneva, is always an important event, it is more crucial that this dialogue leads to the recommendations being implemented. Looking back at Viet Nam’s 3rd UPR cycle, the 2019 National Master Plan played a key role in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. I hope the government will continue this good practice by creating a National Master Plan for the 4th UPR cycle, to set a clear path for the implementation of accepted recommendations nationwide. 

Third, adopt a whole-of-society approach throughout the UPR process. By taking into account the concerns of diverse stakeholders, we can prompt a continuous process of reflection leading to the progressive enhancement of human rights. Ensuring meaningful participation involves more than merely consulting individuals and communities. It implies placing people at the centre of every stage of the UPR, empowering them with the knowledge, capacity, networks, and platforms to raise their voices and create spaces for them to participate in the process. The invaluable role of civil society and communities in contributing their expertise and experience from the realities on the ground, cannot be stressed enough.

Distinguished guests, 

Let me close the opening remarks today by referring to the upcoming Human Rights Day, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Today the world is grappling with considerable challenges to the fulfilment of human rights. The universality of human rights is being challenged and put under greater pressure than ever before. As we observe the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, allow me to emphasize the centrality of the Declaration. Advancing the universal values enshrined in the Declaration is key to achieving our collective progress. I commend Viet Nam for its role in leading and sponsoring the resolution on the ‘Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UDHR’. With the current membership in the Human Rights Council, I look forward to seeing Viet Nam will continue to demonstrate its leadership in the protection and promotion of human rights both at home, and at the global level. 

The United Nations family is proud to be a long-standing partner of Viet Nam over the past 46 years. The UN will continue to work closely with the Government of Viet Nam, development partners and civil society, to keep human rights at the centre of all our efforts upholding dignity, freedom, and justice for all. 

Thank you. Xin cảm ơn!